Tanni Grey-Thompson joins Olympic legacy board

Visualisation showing Chobham Manor at the London Olympic Park, post games

Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson will help steer the residential-led redevelopment of the Olympic Park in east London

London mayor Boris Johnson announced the appointment of the 43-year-old former wheelchair racer to the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) board today (3 December).

The mayor said Grey-Thompson – who is already on the Transport for London and London Marathon boards – would bring a ‘unique mix of experience’ to the organisation which plans to construct 6,800 new homes on the 64-hectare Stratford site.

She said: ‘The Olympic Park was the heart and soul of the greatest Olympic Games ever but in 2005 we set out a vision to not only bring new life to a neglected part of east London, but to provide lasting sporting and community infrastructure for the future.

‘I am determined to bring that vision to life and to be a part of this important final piece of the Games jigsaw.’

Grey-Thompson told the AJ she supported its Women in Architecture campaign and believed the spirit of the Games would continue to help battle prejudices.

‘For me the Paralympics has always been associated with breaking down boundaries and extending opportunity – nowhere was that more true than London,’ she said. ‘Our aim was always to hold a more inclusive Games than ever and there is no reason why that should end.

‘We already have Zaha Hadid’s beautiful Aquatics Centre as a testament to the skills of women in architecture; the Olympic Park should continue to benefit from the skills of all in our society.’

The northern part of the Olympic Park is expected to open its doors in July next year with Zaha Hadid’s Aquatics Centre also set to open in 2014.

The development corporation has outline planning permission for a family homes-led masterplan drawn up by AECOM, Allies and Morrison, KCAP, Witherford Watson Mann, Maccreanor Lavington, Panter Hudspith, Caruso St John, VOGT and West 8.

The first 870-home phase – known as Chobham Manor – will be designed by Make, PRP, Muf, Karakusevic Carson and NORD.

Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross and mayoral Olympics advisor Neale Coleman have also been appointed to the board which is chaired by Johnson. The mayor’s chief of staff will be the official observer for LLDC meetings.

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